USS Oriskany (CV/CVA-34), nicknamed The O-boat, was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, named for the Revolutionary War Battle of Oriskany.
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I crossed-decks to the O-Boat from the USS RANGER in 1974. I was aboard the Ranger from 1971-'74.I am re-opening a service-connection claim and I have pretty much looked under every rock for my (SMR's) Service Medical Records to use in validating my claim. I have checked with NARA, BUPERS, with no results. I do have my service records.I have been denied once at regional level and once at BVA level because I had no SMR's to validate my claim.
So...the other day while at a VA appointment, my doctor was inquiring of my condition and I told her that I had previously been denied due to no SMR's. She asked me what my last was and told her it was the USS ORISKANY and at the time of my discharge was based out of NAS ALAMEDA. I said, " ...the USS ORISKANY was decommissioned in '70's and now underwater and NAS ALAMEDA no longer exists either, so looking for my medical there is no longer an option. Finally my doctor said I should try the Pentagon...does anyone know if that is even feasible? Taking all suggestions.
Back in the 50's at Yokosuka I use to watch them film the movie "Bridges of Toko Ri" Using the Oriskany and the Kearsarge, when one would be off Korea, the other would be in Yokosuka so they would film what ever ship was in, They would change the number on the island to correspond to the same ship each time. They would maneuver the ships to the dock with the propeller driven planes on the Bow just like in the movie.
I was aboard from 1969-72 as a Radarman and Electronic Warfare Operator. Lots of good memories and life long friendships. I did see two names on this sit I remember from other sites,
I was on the Oriskany from June 65 to March 69 in Number 2 Fireroom.
the o boat was my first ship, i was volunteered to go to g division,i didn't realize how lucky i was, it was a great division ,we worked hard at sea and played hard in port
wonderful and very proud memories of this ship. it's off the coast of florida now as an artificial reef for divers.
great ship
I visited a buddy on the Oriskany when they pulled into Subic Bay and tied up at the Cubi dock. (Late '70s, I believe.) I happened to be deployed there with VP-46 at the same time they were WESTPACing, so it was a good chance to catch up.
He took me for a short tour of the ship (at least the parts we enlisted types were allowed in), then showed me how they tuned the cable-lifted aircraft elevators. He brought a mallet and some sort of acoustic meter to the center elevator while it was most of the way down, then struck struck each cable with the mallet while checking its frequency with the meter. That's how they checked tension and kept the elevators level on the O-boat. (That center elevator was a real challenge, since it had been warped in the fire.)
It was sad seeing that television special about how the Oriskany was stripped down, then prepared for sinking as an artificial reef off the northwest Florida coast. They had underwater cameras mounted throughout the ship as it went down. It was incredible to see tons of seawater suddenly pour into the hanger deck where I'd once walked.
Now her flight deck is 145 feet under the waves at 30° 2' 33" N; 87° 0' 23" W
I joined my A4 Skyhawk squadron VA-163 Oct. 28, 1966 at Subic Bay, Philippines only two days after the "fire at sea". I was on the flight deck during the Burial at Sea on Nov. 3rd, 1966 in the Philippine Sea and took a few color pictures of the destroyers off our port side.
After the repair of the Oriskany damage I came back for another full cruise on the O' boat in June of '67 through '68. The Oriskany and the squadrons attached to her lost many planes & men during the Westpac cruise of 1967.
I was on the Mighty O one year from 59 to 60, just after it came back into commission. Everything was just like new. I enjoyed that year because I worked for great people. We worked our buns off but never seemed to mind it. We would go to sea on Monday for ops and back in Friday. Some times there would be a bunch of mods. we would have to do to the catapults before the next Mon., so we'd work all weekend around the clock. I'd get home Sunday afternoon so tired I couldn't hold my head up. It was tough pulling catapult deck plates up on the flight deck watching everybody else going on liberty. We did the job and made the Cat Off. look good and he appreciated it. After a year I left the Oriskany for shore duty at Lakehurst, NJ.
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